Rein-support



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. W. HALL. REIN SUPPORT (No Model.)

Patented-Sept. 15, 1891 5 E 5 5 E N w (No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. W. HALL. RBIN SUPPORT. No. 459,522. Patented Sept. 15, 1891.-

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GEORGE IV. HALL, OF BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

RUN-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,522, dated September 15, 1891.

Application filed June 3, 1891- Serial No. 394,922. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE W HALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rein-Supports, of which the followingis aspecification.

My invention relates to harness for horses used in drawing vehicles. Its object is to provide a suitable attachment to be placed, preferably, on the hip-strap, whereby the reins, when lying loosely, are arrested at a point where they may be easily recovered, and also to so construct the device that in the event of the reins being carried by the support such support will not be an obstacle in the way to prevent their speedy recovery. It is necessary in order to secure the desired result that the device used for this purpose should pro ject above the surface of the hip-strap or other portion of the harness whereon it may be placed. lVhile this is an essential feature, yet under certain circumstances the reins are liable to be thrown by the support. Then if such support is rigidly fixed in a projected position, as heretofore constructed, it will present a very serious obstruction to their recovery. Besides, a rigidly-fixed support will prevent a close contact of the blanket with the body of the horse.

My invention consists of a clip embracing the hip-strap and held by frictional contact therewith and arranged to be adjusted thereon by means of its frictional connection, a tongue journaled in the clip, adapted to fold upon the breach or hip strap, and a spring for normally holding the tongue in a projected position, all of which improvements will be more fully described in the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To more fully understand my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference thereon, forming part of -this specification.

' Figure 1 represents the support attached to the hip-strap of the harness. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached view and side elevation of the support, showing the same both open and folded. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 represent detail views.

Its construction'and operation are as follows:

1 represents the base-piece or clip; 2, projecting ends of the same, bent at right angles thereto; 4, tongue; 5, pin on which such tongue is journaled, which pin passes transversely through the projections 2 oft-he clip; 6, projecting hub or bossof the tongue, on whichis placed spring'7; 8,spring-shoe placed between the strap and clip to insure friction on said strap; 9, strap to which the clip is attached. I prefer to construct the base-piece of the support of thin metal in the form as shown in the end elevation, Fig. 4. The por- 4. is placed between the project-ions 2, swinging freely on pin 5, (see also Fig. 2,) said pin passing transversely through the projection 2and hole 10 of thetongue. (See Fig. 6.) The boss 6 (see end elevation of tongue, Fig. 7) projects laterally from one side of the tongue, to receive the coiled spring 7, Figs. 3 and 2. One end of said spring is secured to the tongue while the opposite end is secured to one of the projections 2 of the base. The curved spring-shoe 8 has the projecting ends 11, which engage with the ends of the base 1. As seen at Fig. 2, the convex side of such shoe will rest upon the strap 9 and exert a tension thereon sufficient to maintain the support in any position required. The tongue is adapted to fold overin one direction, as shown, and to regain itsnorinal or upright position by means of the spring 7. To prevent the tongue being carried beyond such upright position, the notch 12 is out in the lower part of the said tongue, as seen in Fig.6, and the projection 13 arranged to engage the pin 14 and limit the backward movement of the tongue.

The deviceis placed upon the hip-strap 9, as shown in Fig. 1, and adjusted thereon in the proper position best suited to arrest the rein 16 when such rein is lying loosely on the back: of-the horse, it being understood that two devices are employed, one on each side of the horse. Under ordinary circumstances the support placed as above described will fully perform its duty and prevent the rein dropping down and lodging under the end 17 of the hip-strap and thus hinder its speedy recovery. Should the rein at any time be accidentally thrown out of the support and betion 1 embraces the strap 9, while the tongue low the same, the tongue will readily give way to the slightest pressure from the rear and fold over upon the hip-strap, as shown in Fig. 2, thus offering no resistance to a full and complete recovery of the rein. The spring '7 need be no stronger than will readily carry the tongue back into its normal or projected position, so that it may readily fold over un-' der a slight pressureas, for instance, when ablanketis thrown over the horse. By means of the spring-shoe exerting a uniform tension 011 the hip-strap at all points it enables the support to be adjusted thereon to suit the 110- tion of each individual driver, which can be done without any trouble, except slipping it along the strap to the required point. This is a decided advantage over a device that must be securely fastened in each position it occupies.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a rein-support, of the clip 1, formed of one piece of metal and bent in the manner shown so as to embrace the hip-strap or other portion of a harness, ends 2 of said clip projecting upward, as shown, pin 5, placed transversely through said projecting ends, with. the tongue 4: placed between the projecting ends of the clip and journaled on said pin, and spring 7 to mainthe projecting ends of the clip, and spring 7 to maintain said tongue in an upright position, with the spring friction-shoe 8 placed between the inner surface of the clip and the harnessstrap, so that by the frictional contact of said shoe the support may be retained in any desired position on said strap, as shown.

3. The combination, in a rein-support, of the clip 1, having the projecting ends 2, pin 5, placed transversely through said ends, tongue 4, placed between said ends and journaled on said pin, spring '7 to return the tongue to an upright position, and notch 12, formed in the base of said tongue to engage with pin 14 of the clip, so that its backward movement is checked by said notch and pin, combined with the spring friction-shoe 8, all combined and arranged to operate as shown and described.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Oonnecticu t, this 25th day of May, A. D. 1891.

GEORGE WV. HALL.

\Vitnesses:

EDw. J. MORGAN, J. LEwIs GREEN. 

